Depth-consistent v_s-based approach for soil liquefaction evaluation

The shear wave velocity tests have been commonly used as an engineering field testing technique, and are gradually becoming a basic index for soil liquefaction evaluation. The shortcoming of the Andrus' method and Chinese code method has been found by using the database from Andrus, and the new hyperbolic model and formula V_s-based for estimating liquefaction potential of liquefiable layer are proposed. The reliability of the above three methods is verified through the data newly collected by Kayen, and the possibility and approach of improving the discrimination accuracy are discussed. The results indicate that the Chinese code method is significantly conservative for both shallow soil layer and deep soil layer and will predict the dense sand as liquefiable. The Andrus' method is conservative for shallow soil layer, and an irrational phenomenon of back bending occurs in the deep soil layer. The proposed hyperbolic model can provide good results for both shallow soil layer and deep soil layer and solve the deficiency of Chinese code method and Andrus' method. When the in-situ shear-wave velocity tests are used to predict soil liquefaction for a specific site, multiple tests should be taken to reduce data discreteness.